Juncker tour highlights gaps in EU’s Balkan strategy

Following European Commission President Juncker’s trip around the Balkans, Balkan Insight runs a commentary by Toby Vogel, the co-founder of the Democratization Policy Council, stating the EU does not have a coherent Western Balkan policy. Juncker is trying to make up for his mistake of previously stating there would be no EU enlargement during his first term, and he is now struggling to explain the target date of 2025 set for Serbia and Montenegro possibly joining the EU. Meanwhile, Brussels is hinting that it wants Belgrade to recognize Kosovo’s independence, and Serbian officials are saying they will not do so. Likewise, the EU is taking a hands-off approach to the ethnic tensions and inflammatory rhetoric still coming from Western Balkan politicians.